Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 538 - 374 Excited Third Granduncle
Mrs. Lv said so, and of course Dumb Granny knew the reason. Isn’t it just because she wants to go to the Capital? It’s just a pity that the old man disagrees, saying he has to stay home to watch over the second house.
"When your granddaughter grows up, the second grandaunt can naturally come back. She’s still too young! She can’t endure such a long journey."
Mr. Gu strolled around the fields. Nowadays, he didn’t need to be busy with farm work himself. There were servants and farmhands. He just needed to walk around the field’s edge to be at ease, but he couldn’t stay idle; he had to personally see them working to feel assured.
Mr. Gu looked up at the sun overhead, realizing it was almost time for lunch. So he started heading towards the old Gu Family house, passing by the house that Gu Chengyu built three years ago.
When the house was first completed, Gu Chengyu lived there for about a month, then went to the Capital to study. Every time he came back later, he only stayed a few nights before leaving it vacant, which made Mr. Gu feel it was such a waste.
"Old man, you’re out checking the fields today? Want to come inside and take a look?" At this moment, a man in his thirties walked out from the door, tall and strong-looking, whose job was to keep an eye on the house.
"Ah! Yes!" Mr. Gu replied, refusing the man, and continued towards the old family house.
That house was often empty, which made the villagers envious and jealous. Such a big house, yet no one lived there. Wasn’t that a waste?
On the way home, Mr. Gu encountered a few villagers returning from fieldwork. Under their envious and jealous gazes, he leisurely carried on with his hands behind his back and went home.
Under the big banyan tree at the village entrance, several elder villagers were chatting idly beneath it.
"Hey? Don’t you think the Gu Family is really prosperous now, living in such a big house? The fifth son of the Gu Family went to the Capital, didn’t they say he also passed some sort of examination? What is this examination thing anyway?"
"The Gu Family really depends on this fifth son! No wonder back then, a fortune-teller prophesied for the Gu Family, saying they would rise in status. Look, isn’t Third Granduncle here? This time, he has some leisure, let’s have Third Granduncle tell us about it."
Third Granduncle, sitting on a large stone, couldn’t help but show a proud expression. He had studied for a couple of years in his youth and naturally understood these things.
As Third Granduncle was about to explain to everyone what the examination was, suddenly there was the sound of hoofbeats, accompanied by deafening drumming and gong sounds, rolling towards the village entrance.
"Hey? What’s going on? Why is this commotion even bigger than the last examination? What’s happening now? Could it be heading for the Gu Family again?"
Though advanced in age, Third Granduncle had sharp ears and eyes. As the people drew nearer, Third Granduncle slapped his thigh, quickly propping himself up with a cane, moving with a speed not typical of a frail old man, which startled the person sitting beside him.
"Quick, go inform Changqing’s family, there’s great news!"
He shouted excitedly at a nearby Gu Family member, pointing in the direction of the Gu Family, trembling all over.
That family member seemed a bit dazed but soon connected the dots and quickly turned to rush towards the old Gu Family house.
"Third Granduncle, what’s wrong with you? Don’t get too excited!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
The villagers nearby, seeing Third Granduncle so enthusiastic, were worried he might make a mistake. That would be a huge issue!
Third Granduncle was the longest-lived in the village, eighty-two this year, yet he still had good hearing and a strong body, waving his cane vigorously.
If something truly happened, the Gu Family wouldn’t take it lying down!
Third Granduncle patted his thigh, "A Jinshi has emerged in the Gu Family! Our Gu Family is truly changing fortunes!"
Third Granduncle realized through the procession that something big was happening, though he hadn’t clearly seen the words Champion Scholar. He thought Gu Chengyu had become a Jinshi and was going to become an official, so how could he not be happy?
The villagers under the banyan tree were filled with envy. Even the women returning from picking vegetables stopped, looking towards the village entrance.
The sound of gongs and drums grew closer, so Third Granduncle immediately had someone support him to meet the procession. As they got closer, he almost ran out of breath when he saw the words Champion Scholar on the board.
Qinghe County’s magistrate had changed, and the new magistrate was surnamed Li. He was naturally delighted to have such a grand event right after taking office.
When the official documents from the Prefecture arrived, he was somewhat in disbelief. Jingyuan Prefecture had three people who became Jinshi this year, and two of them were from Qinghe County. One of them was even a Champion Scholar, and these were all his achievements! Wasn’t this like a pie falling from the sky?
When the messenger came to Shangling Village to report the good news, of course, he came along. As soon as they reached the village entrance, he lifted the carriage curtain to look towards the village, seeing many people gathered under the big banyan tree, looking at them.
Third Granduncle trembled as he walked towards the procession, preparing to kowtow to Lord County Magistrate Li.
It’s said that County Magistrate Li wasn’t familiar to him, but he recognized the official uniform!
County Magistrate Li quickly called for the driver to stop, got off the carriage, and personally helped Third Granduncle, who was about to kneel, up. He couldn’t bear to let such an elderly person kneel.
"Please rise, elder, no need for formalities!"
Mr. Gu was listening with a headache to Mrs. Lv’s complaints. Didn’t he miss Xiao Bao too? Even though it was hard to leave his homeland, he also wanted to visit the Capital. That way, he wouldn’t feel his life was in vain, but he truly couldn’t stop worrying about the second son!
If they left and the second son caused some trouble, how would they protect Xiao Bao’s reputation? Besides, with Xiao Bao not at home, if the second son used Xiao Bao’s name to cause trouble outside, and no one helped clean up the mess, wouldn’t it ultimately affect Xiao Bao?
"Hmph! You just hold onto your second son and live on. This precious son is all you’ve got in this life; the others are just picked up."
Mrs. Lv was so angry that she even said they were picked up.
"Look at you, what are you saying? Sigh!"
Mr. Gu felt a deep sense of helplessness. It wasn’t that he was worrying too much, but the other day he discovered that the second son, studying in the county, was using Xiao Bao’s name to throw his weight around.
The second son boasted to his classmates at the private school, saying his Little Uncle was studying in the Capital and had already gained the examination title; becoming a Jinshi was a sure thing, and who knew, perhaps even becoming a Champion Scholar could be considered! Naturally, people believed him, and the second son received many benefits, saying he would speak favorably for them in front of Xiao Bao in the future.
The second son and his classmates were all scholars, and of course understood that after passing the examination, one only had to participate in the Imperial Examination, and if luck was good, getting into the top three of the First Class would directly grant one an official position. Some students at the private school had families engaged in commerce, rich in money but lacking connections.
With Xiao Bao’s reputation spreading throughout the Prefecture, people naturally believed these words. If Gu Wanjiang helped them connect, maybe when they went to the Capital in the future, they could ask for Gu Huiyuan’s favor!
With this reputation, the second son thrived like a fish in water in the county.
